Image source, PA Media

What a start for Emma Raducanu!

Maria Sakkari suddenly looks uncomfortable on her forehand, smashing one long to gift the former US Open winner an early break.

To be fair to the Briton, she stayed in the rally, not giving her opponent an easy out.

Coco Gauff gets advantage and then takes the game with a beautifully placed forehand over the corner post of the net and down the line.

The American, broken by Sonay Kartal in the previous game, hits back immediately and is now gearing up to serve for the set.

Double fault. Emma Raducanu has an immediate break point.

Two errors from Maria Sakkari sees her slip to deuce. An early chance...

Breaking Coco Gauff was key to keeping Sonay Kartal in this first set but holding here is crucial too.

Kartal, trailing 30-15, shows great disguise to send Gauff the wrong way. 30-30.

Ooooo it's just wide from Kartal but she fights back to deuce.

A big roar greets Raducanu's first point as Maria Sakkari buries a shot into the net.

The Greek though is looking up for this, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and hits a fine backhand winner into the corner to go up 40-15.

Incredibly, this is the first time Emma Raducanu is playing a seed at Wimbledon.

World number nine Maria Sakkari serves first and she nabs the opening point with a powerful forehand that Raducanu can only return into the net.

That is just the second time Coco Gauff has been broken at Wimbledon this week as Sonay Kartal seems to be settling into her new surroundings on Court One.

Alan Jewell
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

It didn't start too well - Coco Gauff won the first eight points - but Sonay Kartal has settled and got herself back on level terms as the American double-faults. And the Court One crowd love it.

Ashleigh Barty
Three-time Grand Slam champion on BBC TV

Maria Sakkari is one of the best athletes on the WTA tour. She's exceptional moving in and out of corners and sometimes plays her best tennis when pushed to the corners.

She knows what it takes to rise to a big occasion and I think an atmosphere like this and everything that comes with it, I think this will bring out her best tennis.

A power serve from Coco Gauff denies Sonay Kartal at the first attempt - the Brit unable to return cleanly.

But she takes it at the second time of asking!

Wow!

This match is back on serve.

Image source, EPA

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Maria Sakkari has been trying to play it cool before facing Emma Raducanu.

But both players will be aware, even though they deny it publicly, their part of the draw is wide open.

Today's winner will face New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, who had never won a Grand Slam match until this week, in the last 16.

"Maria is trying to downplay the importance so she doesn't feel pressure. But I'm sure she knows how important it is," says Greek journalist Vicky Georgatou.

"She also says she doesn't remember any of the US Open match against Raducanu and is not seeking revenge.

"Her words were she is just 'treating it like any other match'. I think she is being honest."

Also, Sakkari's boyfriend Konstantinos Mitsotakis - the son of the Greek prime minister - is here at the All England Club.

He lives in the United States but has took advantage of the 4 July holiday to fly over to London.

A second double fault from Coco Gauff sees Sonay Kartal on the board in this ninth game. 15-15.

That's only the third point Gauff has conceded on serve in this match and it's swiftly followed by a fourth as the American scoops into the net.

And more crucially a fifth as Kartal moves 40-15 in front and has two attempts to break.

Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC TV

I think personally Emma Raducanu's ranking of 135 in the world is misleading. The way that she's been playing, building momentum after she had those wrist surgeries and the surgery she had on her foot. For me, she's playing top-50, top-30 level.

I think this is a really, really close match.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Like Raducanu, Sakkari is aiming to reach the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time in a good while.

In 2021, Sakkari reached the French Open and US Open semi-finals, but since losing in the fourth round at the 2022 Australian Open, she has not gone past the last 32.

Greek journalist Vicky Georgatou says Sakkari's season has had "a lot of ups and downs", but has regained confidence at the All England Club.

"She had some difficult moments in both of her opening matches but managed to keep her composure.

"That didn't happen in the previous Grand Slams when things went wrong.

"In difficult moments she got angry. Here she is calmer and cooler.

"Getting through the two rounds was a barrier. Now she has overcome that and that has been a confidence boost."

Leon Smith
GB Davis Cup captain on BBC TV

Emma Raducanu played Maria Sakkari at the US Open on her run to winning it but here is different, different situation.

If Emma plays anything like she did the other day, difficult to repeat that and sustain that but she was unbelievable, hitting the ball so cleanly, she moves well on the grass court, she has got variety in her game.

Her confidence is starting to come back which is great and as she said, she's enjoying her tennis and that's the main thing. She's doing the work, doing the right things, she's got good people around her.

I've said before, you can't fluke what she did in the US Open, her level is sky-high.

Her level is sky high so when she finds that enjoyment and that direction that she's going in, she's going to be in a good place.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu's run to the US Open title in 2021 is indelibly marked in the minds of British tennis fans.

So you will all remember who she beat in the semi-finals.... Maria Sakkari.

Like she did almost three years ago, Raducanu is again fostering an underdog mentality.

"The circumstances are different. A third round compared to a semi-final. At the time the dynamics were also different. I was an unknown player pretty much," says the Brit.

"Again, it's going to be one where I'm the complete underdog and I can just enjoy playing in my home crowd.

"I can just keep having fun and trying to stay an extra day."

A pressure moment for Sonay Kartal on serve.

If she's broken then Coco Gauff will be serving for the set.

No signs of crumbling from the Londoner as she holds to 15, taking the game when Gauff's backhand flies long.

Alan Jewell
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Image source, Getty Images

Wildcard Emma Raducanu, 21, comes into the third round full of confidence after she thoroughly outplayed Elise Mertens on Wednesday, losing just three games in her success.

The test against Maria Sakkari is a rematch of their 2021 US Open semi-final which the Briton won 6-1 6-4 on her way to the title.

Now ranked 135th as she continues her comeback from multiple surgeries last year, Raducanu reached the Nottingham semi-finals and Eastbourne quarter-finals in the build-up to Wimbledon.

"I have had quite a few matches on grass so I am feeling really good," she told BBC Sport.

"It's a match where I can go out and have a swing.

"I have no pressure or expectation to beat someone in the top 10 right now, but of course I believe in myself and I'm confident with the way I am playing."

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Shrill whoops greet Emma Raducanu and Maria Sakkari onto Centre Court.

The Brit gives a smile and little wave to the sparse crowd.

Unsurprisingly the punters need a little breather after that five-set course to start with.

It'll fill up in no time, don't worry.